Barton County democrat. [volume] (Great Bend, Kan.) 1885-1915, 1887-03-03
A HUNTERS WHoPPER.
Origin of the Phrase And It Wasn't Good
DaY for Ducks Either"


In 1860, the year before the war,
party of Northern Illinois hunt
ers hied themselves to the lakes of
Minnesota for an annual duck hunt OF
few weeks, making the journey to st.
Paul, which was at that time but little
more than a frontier village, by steam
er from Dubuque, Iowa. Among the
party was chap named Truax, pro-
verbal liar, but a jolly, good-natured
fellow withal, whose predominant
weakness was readily excused, if not
entirely overlooked, by those who knew
him well. Abe, that being his first
name, seemed to struggle more reck-
lessly and naturally with the truth when
talking about his prowess as hunter
of game than on any other subject.
One afternoon as the steamer was plow-
ing its way through Lake Pepin, a
number of the male passengers were
seated forward on the boiler deck, in
little knots, passing the time away in
conversation. Abe was prominent
figure in one of the groups, and had
already astonished himself fairly by the
whoppers he had successfully gotten
off, when the subject of duck-hunting,
the mission which himself and friends
were out on, was adverted to. '.Tve
shot few ducks in my Time" broke in
Abe, during 4 momentory lull in the
talk. How many did you ever kill in
one day?" queried a eross-eyed passen-
ger from down about Burlington. You
may not believe me, sir, -" replied Truax,
''but in the late fall of 81, went cut
alone, one morning, about seven miles,
with my dog and gun, and brought
home two hundred and sixty ducks by
actual count, and IL ucasn't a re1v good
day for ducks. either" You did that
all alone, and in one trip ?'' asked the
cross-eyed man, as he put down some
figures on an envelope with "A pencil he
had carelessly taken from his vest
pocket Yes, sir, did," said Truax,
with Il tinge of ill-humor to his tone.
''Those ducks would weigh about two
and half pounds apiece. wouldn't
they ?" casually remarked the Bur
ton man, as he kept on making char
acters with his pencil, Il should say
they would" replied the unsuspectine
Abe. well, them" said the persistent
querist, you killed just six hundred
and fifty pounds of ducks, and if you
can tell me how one man is able to
lug that weight seven miles, and carry
gun at the same time, you will dc
something that no other liar in the
Northwest can match" Abe refiecte
minute, and with, THAT is whopper,
isn't it, gentlemen?" he invited the
whole party into the BAR TO take some
thing at his expense. The remark, land
1t wasn't a very good day for ducks,
either, " was used banteringly on Truax
during the remainder of the trip, and in
time became common on the Mssis-
sippi, whence it spread until it became
one Of the proverbial Americanisms OF
the time.-St. Louis Globe Democrat.
The fashion in pet dogs ased to
change from year to year, and this
made good business for the dog fan
ciers- King Charles, Spitz, poodles
bull terriers, black-and-tans, pugs, St
Bernards and collies all had their day
Extravagant prices were paid fer choice
specimens, and no woman of fashion
was happy unless she had her dog.
Things have changed, and the fashion
now is-no dog And good fashion
it is, too--Ckicaqo Herald.
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